By: Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Jan. 3 at 6:42 p.m. ET\n\nJust over a decade ago, Pebble — a name synonymous with early smartwatch innovation — introduced its pioneering round wearable, the Pebble Time Round. That moment, occurring eleven years in the past, marked an important chapter in the evolution of accessible, minimalist smartwatches that favored charm and simplicity over technological excess. Now, more than a decade later, the company has returned to captivate both its loyal long-term supporters and a new generation of potential users by unveiling the Pebble Round 2. This refreshed edition stands as a tribute to the original model’s ethos of understated elegance but also embraces contemporary refinements intended to meet modern expectations for performance, endurance, and usability.\n\nAlthough the new Pebble Round 2 cannot quite claim to be as strikingly slim as the first Pebble Time Round — measuring approximately 0.6 millimeters thicker — the tradeoff feels deliberate and justified. In exchange for that modest increase in thickness, Pebble delivers an extraordinary ten-day battery life, a substantial improvement over competing devices that often struggle to achieve even a fraction of that endurance. This extended usability makes the Round 2 both practical and reliable for everyday wear, ensuring that users spend more time enjoying their watch’s features and considerably less worrying about frequent recharging. Furthermore, the device continues to prioritize one of Pebble’s hallmark innovations: the crisp and efficient 1.3-inch e-paper display. This display type allows the watch to maintain exceptional legibility in a variety of lighting conditions — whether viewed under direct sunlight or indoors — while consuming far less energy than conventional OLED or LCD screens.\n\nIn line with Pebble’s ongoing pursuit of subtle sophistication, the company has refined nearly every visual and functional detail. According to Pebble’s announcement, the Round 2 has been carefully designed to embody the aesthetic language of an analog timepiece rather than a bulky digital gadget. The intent was not to overwhelm users with metrics, notifications, or sensors, but rather to blend technology seamlessly into a design that feels natural, light, and timeless on the wrist. During a side-by-side demonstration, widening the watch’s display proved to have immediate, noticeable benefits. Notifications, messages, and other alerts displayed with far greater clarity and ease, enhancing readability and user experience in day-to-day interactions. This thoughtful revision exemplifies Pebble’s ongoing commitment to subtle yet meaningful improvement.\n\nIt is worth noting that the Pebble Round 2 is not built for those seeking advanced athletic or physiological data tracking. It is not positioned to compete with devices that provide intense sports analytics or multi-sport GPS tracking. Instead, Pebble’s latest creation intentionally narrows its focus to deliver effortless, reliable health insights — features such as daily step counts and sleep monitoring — that complement, rather than define, its purpose. In this way, the Round 2 maintains the sleek, refined lines of a fashion accessory while offering the small conveniences that modern smartwatch owners expect. The balance between style and substance feels intentional, ensuring that technology enhances rather than dominates the design.\n\nEric Migicovsky, Pebble’s CEO and visionary founder, articulated this philosophy during our interview. “With this product, we wanted it to be the most stylish, elegant Pebble ever,” Migicovsky explained, emphasizing that the driving concept was to craft a smartwatch that looked and felt less like a miniature computer strapped to one’s wrist and more like a genuine, enduring piece of horology. “One of the things,” he continued, “is to make it feel like it isn’t a block of technology on your wrist. It feels more like a timepiece.” That aspiration demanded a careful compromise — the watch had to retain a refined thinness to uphold its analog inspiration, yet still carry a robust feature set simulating the convenience modern users expect. This design philosophy, according to Migicovsky, guided every decision throughout Round 2’s development process, from case curvature to display contrast and tactile comfort.\n\nIn essence, the Pebble Round 2 represents a return to origins through innovation — an attempt to recapture the spirit that once made Pebble a cult favorite while simultaneously reinterpreting that legacy through the lens of current technology and design maturity. The device positions itself uniquely in a market dominated by maximalism and over-engineering, proving that subtle efficiency and enduring beauty still hold a powerful appeal. The company hopes this balance of elegance, usability, and endurance will attract both faithful fans nostalgic for the first Pebble and newcomers seeking a smartwatch that does more by doing less. Pre-orders are officially open, inviting enthusiasts to once again experience the essence of Pebble’s vision for stylish wearable simplicity.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/ces-2026-live-updates-1-7-26/
